Nonaqueous cross linking of cellulose with a methylolated urea in the absence of an acidic catalyst

ABSTRACT

This invention comprises the treatment of cellulosic textiles in the absence of an acidic catalyst with dimethylolethyleneurea (DMEU) dissolved in nonaqueous or predominantly nonaqueous solvent systems, such as neat dimethylformamide, neat dimethylacetamide, 90 percent (vol.) ethanol in water, 90 percent (vol.) dioxane in water, 90 percent (vol.) tetrahydrofuran in water, and 50 percent (vol.) dimethylformamide in dioxane. The cellulosic products thus modified have high dry and wet wrinkle recovery when compared to cellulosic textiles treated with DMEU dissolved in water only.

United States Patent Gonzales et al.

[ 1 Feb.29, 1972 [54] NONAQUEOUS CROSS LINKING OF CELLULOSE WITH A METHYLOLATED UREA IN THE ABSENCE OF AN ACIDIC CATALYST [72] Inventors: Elwood J. Gonzales, Gretna; Ralph J. Berni, Metairie; Ruth R. Benerito, New Orleans, all of La.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture [22] Filed: May22, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 39,922

2,588,640 3/1952 Lehmann et a1 ..8/116.3

3,043,719 7/1962 Burr et a1 ...8/116.3

3,090,665 5/1963 Parsons et al.... .8/l 16.3

3,183,054 5/1965 Fischer et al. ..8/l16.4

OTHER PUBLICATIONS Chanceet al., American Dyestuff Reporter, V01. 51, N0. 16, pp. 28- 32, August 6, 1962.

Porter et al., Textile Research Journal, 35, pp. 159- 167 (1965).

Primary ExaminerGeorge F. Lesmes Assistant Examiner-J. Cannon Attorney-R. Hoffman and W. Bier [57] ABSTRACT This invention comprises the treatment of cellulosic textiles in the absence of an acidic catalyst with dimethylolethyleneurea (DMEU) dissolved in nonaqueous or predominantly nonaqueous solvent systems, such as neat dimethylformamide, neat dimethylacetamide, 90 percent (vol.) ethanol in water, 90 percent (vol.) dioxane in water, 90 percent (vol.) tetrahydrofuran in water, and 50 percent (vol.) dimethylformamide in dioxane. The cellulosic products thus modified have high dry and wet wrinkle recovery when compared to cellulosic textiles treated with DMEU dissolved in water only.

5 Claims, No Drawings NONAQUEOUS CROSS LINKING OF CELLULOSE WITH A METHYLOLATED UREA IN THE ABSENCE OF AN ACIDIC CATALYST I A nonexclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license in the invention herein described, throughout the world for all purposes of the United States Government, with the power to grant sublicenses for such purposes, is hereby granted to the Government of the United States of America.

This invention relates to the treatment of cellulosic textiles with dimethylolethyleneurea (DMEU) dissolved in nonaqueous or essentially nonaqueous solvents without added external catalyst to impart wash-wear properties to cellulosic materials. This type of system should find use in decreasing water pollution since the organic or nonaqueous component may be reclaimed or used over again in the textile treating process. From the standpoint of economics, such as reclamation of the organic portion of the solvent system should ultimately decrease the cost of the process.

The main object of the instant invention is to provide a process wherein enhanced dry and wet creases recovery may be imparted to cellulosic textiles in which no external added catalyst is needed.

A second object of the instant invention is to apply the process to cellulosic textile from nonaqueous to predominantly nonaqueous solvent systems.

A third object of the instant invention is to react the DMEU with the cellulosic textiles at an elevated temperatureabout 160 C.on1y without prior drying at lower temperature about 60 C.

To those skilled in the art it is well known that aqueous solutions of DMEU and other nitrogeneous resins must be reacted with cellulosic textiles in the presence of added Lewis-type catalysts, such as acids and metal salts, to impart desirablej wash-wear properties to the finished fabric or garment. Ziifle, et al., (Textile Research Journal 31, No. 4, pp. 349-365, 1962), have applied DMEU to cotton cellulose in the presence of metal salt catalysts, such as MgCl Mg(NO ZnC1 and Zn(NO to obtain enhanced dry and wet crease recovery properties. In accordance with the main object of the instant invention described above, we require no added Lewistype catalyst to effect reaction with the cellulosic materials to obtain the desirable wash-wear properties. Ziifle, et al., also applied DMEU to cotton cellulose from all-aqueous solutions. In accordance with the second object of the instant invention described above, one invention requires nonaqueous or predominately nonaqueous solvents. 1n accordance with the third object of the instant invention described above, we reacted DMEU with the cellulosic textiles at an elevated temperature with one heating, whereas the prior art required a preliminary drying step at about 60 C. prior to curing at an elevated temperature, in order to achieve the desirable washwear properties. I g

The impregnation of the cellulosic material is generally carmethod.

then submitted to a cure at about 160 C. for about three minutes. For the process of this invention, it is not necessary to add a catalyst for the purpose of obtaining wrinkle recovery properties on the textile.

The materials to which our invention can be applied include cotton, rayon, ramie, jute, flax, and the like, and in the case of cotton we have specifically applied our invention to the textile in the form of woven fabrics with satisfactory results. Those skilled in the art can readily visualize the extension of this application to other forms of textiles in the realm of cellulosic materials.

The following examples are presented to illustrate the invention, and since procedure and conditions can be varied by those skilled in the art, the examples are not set forth to establish any particular limits.

' The treated cotton fabrics were submitted to selected standard tests as well as the other tests indicated here. Breaking strength determinations were done by by the ASTM Method D39-49; dry wrinkle recovery determinations were done by the ASTM Method D1295--T; flex abrasion (bar 575) values were obtained by the ASTM Method D1 175-64T; and wet wrinkle recovery determinations were done by the Lawrence and Phillips method described in American Dyestuff Reporter, v01. 45, P. 548-550, 561 (1956). Nitrogen values were obtained by the Kjeldahl Method; and formaldehyde values were obtained by the chromotropic acid EXAMELEJ washed 15 minutes in hot running tap water (pH 910) and allowed to equilibrate in the laboratory under ambient conditions. The treated sample was then submitted to select evaluation, as described earlier in the specification, and the desired and notable properties together with the results of chemical analyses were recorded. The treated fabric had a 6.8 percent weight gain, 2.04 percent nitrogen, 2.2 percent formaldehyde, 77 percent retention of breaking strength (warp), 276 cycles flex abrasion (bar 575). The dry crease recovery (W+F) was ried out in this manner. The material is immersed in neat 270; the wet crease recovery (WXF) was 252. Another piece of 80 X80 cotton printcloth similarly treated with 0.55 molar solution of DMEU in water gave the following properties: 3.1 percent weight gain, 0.88 percent nitrogen, 1.64 percent formaldehyde, 92 percent retention of breaking strength (warp), 308 cycles flex abrasion (bar 575) and only 198 degrees (W+F) dry and 206 degrees (W+F) wet crease recovery.

Other examples are given in Table 1 with their properties.

TABLE 1.-PROPERTIES OF COTTON PRINTCLOTH TREATED WITH 0.55 MOLAR DIMETHYLOLETHYL- ENEUREA (DMEU) IN VARIOUS SOLVENT SYSTEMS Wrinkle recovery Weight Ret. brk. (W +F) ga N, HCHO, str. (w.) Flex abras. Example Solvent system percent percen percent percent cycles Dry Wet 6. 8 2. 04 2. 20 77 276 270 252 MAC 3. 4 1. 44 1. 68 86 362 232 185 (VOL) ethanol-10% (VOL) wate 6.1 1. 2.19 73 373 255 211 (voL) di0xane-10% (voL) water 7. 1 1. 63 2. 51 81 302 271 245 5 90% (VOL) 'IHF10% (VOL) water 7.1 1.81 0.98 68 252 249 234 6 50% (VOL) DMF50% (VOL) 0111086119--. 4. l 1. 08 1. 69 78 207 233 205 Water 3. 1 0. 88 1. 64 92 208 198 206 Untreated control 900 176 138 *50 pounds.

drmethylformamrde (DMF), 90 percent (vol.) ethanol in! What is claimed is:

water, 90 percent (vol.) dioxane in water, 90 percent (vol.) tetrahydrofuran (THF) in water, neat dimethylacetamide (D- MAC), or 50 percent (vol.) DMF in dioxane. The treating bath is also about 0.55 molar concentration in DMEU. Once the material has been impregnated from the treating bath, it is teen liter of solution wherein the solvent is a member selected three minutes at about 160 C. from the group consisting of 90 percent by volume of 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent is 90 percent ethanol in water, 90 percent, by volume of dioxane in by volume f h l i waten Water, 90 Percent y Volume f tetrahydmfurn water, 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent is 90 percent and 50 percent by volume of dimethylformamide in dlOX- 5 by volume of dioxane in water 4. The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent is 90 percent b. removing excess solution from the impregnated cellulosic textile of step (21) until a wet-pickup of about 90 percent by weight, based on the weight of the textile is obtained; and

c. curing the impregnated textile from step (b) for about by volume of tetrahydrofuran in water.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent is 50 percent by volume of dimethylformamide in dioxane. 

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent is 90 percent by volume of ethanol in water.
 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent is 90 percent by volume of dioxane in water.
 4. The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent is 90 percent by volume of tetrahydrofuran in water.
 5. The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent is 50 percent by volume of dimethylformamide in dioxane. 